VT Shipbuilding International has selected Ultra to supply the integrated combat and surveillance system to be fitted to the three offshore patrol vessels for which VT signed a contract with the Trinidad and Tobago government in April 2007. Ultra’s contract is valued at over £8m. It is expected that a separate contract for the support phase will be finalised later this year.

Ultra will supply its OSIRIS^® combat and surveillance system which has been developed specifically for patrol vessels supporting operations to counter terrorism, smuggling and piracy and the policing of economic exclusion zones. Such vessels carry armament ranging from 25mm guns for self defence and up to 40mm for armed interdiction. The offshore patrol vessels being supplied by VT for the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Coastguard are 90m long and carry a single 30mm gun and two 25mm guns.

Ultra’s OSIRIS^® system integrates the surface and air surveillance radars together with an advanced electro-optical surveillance capability in order to enhance the crew’s situational awareness. The OSIRIS^® system also provides the vessel’s command and control and gun fire control capability.

Ultra has worked closely with VT over several years to develop jointly a version of OSIRIS^®  optimised for the Trinidad and Tobago vessels.

The system will be integrated and delivered by Ultra’s Command & Control Systems business in partnership with radar specialist Terma A/S of Denmark and Ultra’s SML Technologies business.

The first vessel is due to be handed over by VT to the customer in 2009 and the third vessel by the end of 2010.

Douglas Caster, Chief Executive of Ultra commented:

“We are very pleased to be selected by VT Shipbuilding and by the Trinidad and Tobago Coastguard for delivery of this key capability to these vessels. This contract is another example of Ultra successfully innovating to provide cost effective system solutions for customers around the world.”